Best Quiet Air Compressors 2020

You might laugh when you first consider that a quiet air compressor is even possible. We’ve all been in shops and heard the loud sound of the air compressor pump as it tries to keep up with the various impact wrenches and other tools drawing air from its tank. High capacity air compressors like in a shop are rarely quiet, but you can get a quieter air compressor to use in your home, office, workshop or on a job site. Finding the right quiet air compressor to fit your needs and preferences can be something of a challenge unless you know what to look for and what to expect.

Our buyer’s guide will help inform you about the various features and benefits of a quiet air compressor so that finding one won’t be such a major challenge. Utilizing the reviews of various models available, which we also will include, allows you to compare how the features and benefits we discussed are implemented by each one.

The objective of this article is to provide you with enough information from the buyer’s guide and sufficient practical application from the reviews to make a more qualified decision when it comes to selecting the best quiet air compressor to fit your needs.

Why do you need a quiet air compressor?

How and where you need to use your air compressor determines the various reasons why you might need a quiet air compressor. It could be that you use an air compressor in a home shop where children or other family members might be trying to sleep or study. Certain businesses might use an air compressor for cleaning or repairing items while someone at the counter is attempting to provide service to customers. Painters on a job site might need a quiet air compressor for various reasons as well. In these cases, and many others, a quiet air compressor can be a great benefit.

What benefits can you expect from a quiet air compressor?

Quiet air compressors allow you to continue doing whatever you need to do using an air compressor without any worries of how it might be affecting others. Working with a tool that makes a continuous, loud noise tends to add to stress and a quiet air compressor can help to relieve some of that stress. In addition, communication between persons working in the same workshop or repair shop can be improved with a quiet air compressor.

What are some features to look for in a quiet air compressor?

When it comes to choosing a quiet air compressor, a number of different factors, including how it is used as well as your own personal preferences. However, there are some general features to look for in the process of selecting the right one for you.

Capacity

Air compressor capacity is typically measured in gallons or liters and is related to the size of the storage capacity of the pressure tank where the compressed air is held. There are two measurement included in air compressor capacity: the size of the tank and the maximum air pressure it will store when full. A capacity might be labeled: 3 gallons @ 125 psi. This means that the size of the tank is 3 gallons and the maximum air pressure it holds is 125 pound per square inch (PSI). Quiet air compressors tend to be less than 10 gallons and less than 200 psi, though there are some exceptions.

Rate of Flow

Rate of flow is how much force or pressure is available to fill up a tire or a ball, operate a paint gun, or an air powered tool when the air compressor is at a certain psi or above. Rate of flow is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM) and it is typically followed by a psi measurement. Rate of flow might be labeled: 1.5 CFM @ 40 psi. This means that when the tank is at 40 psi, you can expect a flow rate of 1.5 cubic feet per minute. This flow rate will match up to various tools, which will require a certain minimum rate in order to operate. You will need to be aware of these requirements before you purchase a quiet air compressor, which may or may not have enough power to run these tools.

Other Considerations

Though capacity and rate of flow are the primary features to keep in mind as you shop for a quiet air compressor, there are additional considerations to keep in mind as you compare various models of air compressors. Here are some of those considerations:

• Size and weight. Size and weight come into consideration for two reasons: portability and space. Quiet air compressors usually don’t take up a lot of space, but they come in various shapes and sizes and may or may not fit the space you have planned. The weight of the unit will also make a big difference when it comes to how portable it is, though some of that weight can be made up for with castors or wheels attached to the unit.
• Noise level. The noise level of quiet air compressors should be close to 70 decibels (dB) to be considered quiet. 70 dB is about equal to the noise of a car passing you when you are walking along the street, which is still pretty loud. You will note that there are several air compressors in our review below that are well under that noise level.
• Power source. An air compressor pump can be powered by gas or electricity. A gas powered air compressor will be a whole lot louder than an electric one with the added engine noise. In addition to noise, the voltage and amperage of the motor on the air compressor needs to be taken into consideration to be sure that there are available outlets and your wiring will handle the load. Most quiet air compressors use little more energy than a typical ceramic heater.
• Maintenance. When it comes to maintenance, there is really only one thing to look for when selecting a quiet air compressor. You want it to have an oil free pump, if at all possible, in order to avoid that little maintenance item.

Keeping the above features and benefits in mind, let’s drop down to our reviews of several quiet air compressors so that you can compare the various features and further narrow down your selection.

Top Rated Best Quiet Air Compressor Reviews

Specs:

The 1 HP motor on this Campbell Hausfeld Air Compressor does a great job of providing enough capacity and airflow to power your tools without a lot of extra noise. This unit includes a tank that is larger than your typical quiet air compressor, providing you with extended working time instead of waiting on your tank pressure to come back up. A long-life, oil-free and maintenance-free dual piston pump provides you with higher levels of continuous psi for better performance and durability. Nailers, staplers, pressure washers, paint sprayers and other tools can be operated with this compressor.

The Good

68 dB is the noise level equivalent of most conversations, so this air compressor is pretty tolerable. At 62 pounds, the Campbell Hausfeld is still pretty portable. Its pancake style tank makes it fairly compact to fit in tighter spaces. It has the power to run nearly all air powered tools and it is maintenance free.

The Not So Good

Some users may have difficulty assembling this unit when they first take it out of the box. Some users contend that reading the pressure gauge on this unit is something of a challenge as well.

A Great Choice If…

You need a quiet air compressor, but still need to run some of the more powerful air tools. If you are looking for a whisper quiet machine, this one won’t quite meet your expectation.

Specs:

The Excell SAC22HPE air compressor is another 1 HP unit which is very quiet, but still provides plenty of air power. The 2 gallon capacity of this air compressor provides enough power to operate nearly all of the power tools you might need to use without making you wait on the tank to refill and the pressure to come back up. This is a light and portable air compressor in a roll cage design, which keeps vital components protected during transport and storage. Conveniently located panels put controls and gauges where they are easy to access.

The Good

The power to run most power tools while maintaining a noise level of only 61 dB is pretty impressive. Its design makes it much more portable than most models and makes getting to controls and reading the gauges much simpler, even for novice users. There is little assembly required to have this model up and running. This unit is also maintenance free.

The Not So Good

No fittings and hoses come with this air compressor, so you will have to purchase those separately. You will also one to have thread tape on hand when you attach the pump filter to the unit.

A Great Choice If…

You want a powerful unit that is extremely portable. Those who are expecting a quieter unit with equivalent power might be disappointed.

Specs:

The 0.6 HP motor on the California Air Tools CAT-1P1060S air compressor allows for an impressively low decibel level. It is extremely light and portable as well as compact for easy setup or storage where there is limited space. With its 1 gallon tank, this air compressor has quick recovery to maximum air pressure so you won’t have to wait long for the tank to fill. Its upright handle makes it easy to move around and its feet have a solid base. In addition, this air compressor is maintenance free and extremely durable.

The Good

The noise rating on this unit is similar to what you might hear in the typical suburban neighborhood on a weekday afternoon. Hobbyists can use this air compressor for a number of tools that require less CFM. It has a quick refill and recovery time of about 15 seconds and this unit is rated with a lifespan of over 3,000 hours of operation.

The Not So Good

The smaller tank requires more frequent restarts, which can wear out the pump motor faster. It only runs a limited number of air powered tools that operate below 1.5 CFM. The steel tank is more prone to rust than aluminum or stainless steel tanks.

A Great Choice If…

You use your air compressor with a limited number of low powered tools or primary for cleaning or inflating. You won’t be happy with this air compressor if you are a frequent user of more powerful air powered tools.

Specs:

The first quiet air compressor produced by Hitachi, the EC28M, is a lightweight and portable unit with a decent maximum psi. This compressor’s motor and pump produce less than 60 dB of noise and provides the necessary power for hobbyists to run tools and use air for cleaning as well as inflating tires and other items. Its low weight, roll-cage design and compact size make this air compressor very portable. This unit features an easy access control panel, a stainless steel tank, an oil free pump and a quick coupler for faster hose connection.

The Good

The portability of this unit, which is ready to use right out of the box, is pretty impressive. The stainless steel tank reduces the risk of corrosion and rust. The control panel on this air compressor provides easy access to controls and gauges. The tank as a very quick refill time and its noise level isn’t bad. The quick coupler provided is a nice touch.

The Not So Good

The lower air flow rating on this unit make it very limited for running most tools. The smaller tank will require more frequent restarts of the motor, which will threaten its durability.

A Great Choice If…

You run few tools and need a portable air compressor primarily for cleaning and inflating. If you use many air powered tools, you won’t be impressed with this unit.

Specs:

The California Air Tools 8010 air compressor ups the race for air capacity among quiet air compressors while still staying at an acceptable noise level. Though that 8 gallon tank adds a few extra pounds to the unit, it can keep your air powered tools running for a lot longer without frequent restarts and the addition of a wheel kit can make transporting this unit a snap. The oil-free dual piston pump on this unit provides sufficient airflow to power most air tools without much problem.

The Good

This air compressor provides a lot of power and has an excellent capacity for a quiet air compressor. Though it is a bit heavier, it still isn’t bad at 54 pounds and the wheels help with that extra weight. Working with most air powered tools won’t be a problem with this unit. 60 dB is a pretty acceptable noise level for a higher capacity air compressor, which will require fewer restarts to keep it full, adding to the longevity of the unit.

The Not So Good

Some assembly is required when setting up this air compressor. It still won’t run high-impact tools, though people often mistake it for a full-powered air compressor. It comes with a steel tank which is more susceptible to rust and corrosion issues. It isn’t as compact as many of the others in this review.

A Great Choice If…

You run mid-range air powered tools with quite a bit of frequency. You might not appreciate the space required for this unit if you have limited space for setting it up.

Specs:

Designed to be the quietest 2 HP air compressor in the industry, the California Air Tools CAT-4620AC has a noise rating of 70 dB. This air compressor has an oil-free, dual piston pump system with a life cycle of over 3,000 hours of high performance durability. It has two 2.3 gallon aluminum tanks produce weigh just over 65 lbs and this unit comes with two output couplers conveniently located on an easy access control panel. The output of this unit allows two people to run most power tools at the same time without having to wait for the air compressor to recharge.

The Good

Though this air compressor has a 2 HP motor, it is still pretty quiet, especially when you consider the high level of flow rating at which it will function. It has a great deal of longevity built in with rust-proof aluminum tanks and 3,000 plus hours of operation on the dual piston pump. It is easy to start with lower starting amps required. It will run two lines of power tools at 2.6 CFM @ 90 psi each.

The Not So Good

Though it is quiet for a larger capacity air compressor, 70 dB is still at the upper end of the quiet air compressor classification. At 67.5 pounds, this air compressor is a bit on the heavy end for true portability for many people.

A Great Choice If…

You need a heavier duty air compressor for yourself and another person to work at the same time and don’t mind that it is a bit on the noisy end. You might not be happy with this machine if you need one that is a bit more portable.

Specs:

Backed by a sold brand name in home improvement tools, this DeWalt DWFP55130 Air Compressor was designed to take on heavy duty work. For as small as it is, this air compressor is pretty powerful with its 200 max psi tank, which will keep the necessary flow rate for most air tools up for a longer period of time before recharging. This unit comes with dual air outlet couplings for attaching two tools at the same time. The clean case with the easy access control panel makes it very convenient for use and as a portable unit as well.

The Good

This DeWalt air compressor is lightweight, but still solid. Its capacity and pump handle a very high psi and flow rating. Its easy access panel with dual air outlet couplings makes it a favorite among those who run more than one tool at a time. It is designed to be used either horizontally or vertically for added convenience. It has a low amp rating at 12 Amps.

The Not So Good

The low tank capacity can be something of a problem when running two tools at the same time. Its decibel rating of 71.5 dB is a little bit high for a quiet air compressor.

A Great Choice If…

You need a lightweight, portable machine backed by a solid brand name and packing plenty of power. You might not be happy with this air compressor’s loudness.

Specs:

When it comes to indoor operation, the Eagle EA-2000 Silent Series Air Compressor is a great choice. At only 44 dB, this is one of the quietest air compressors available. This unit can be used for cleaning and lighter demand air tools without much problem and comes in a sleek steel design. Its control panel makes it easy to access the coupler, controls and monitor gauges. The pump on the Eagle is oil-free and its motor only pulls 3.5 Amps.

The Good

The low amp consumption of this air compressor is pretty impressive. Besides saving power, the life expectancy of the motor is 4x your typical air compressor. This is a super quiet air compressor and is lightweight for portable use. It uses an oil-free double piston to keep its flow rating up to expectation.

The Not So Good

Having only a one gallon tank means that when you are using it for higher powered tools it will need to recharge the tank more often. It is really too weak to run any higher demand power tools and is really relegated to cleaning and inflating applications.

A Great Choice If…

You mostly require an air compressor for cleaning and inflating, and want a ridiculously quiet machine. You won’t be happy with this machine if you need to run air-powered tools.

The DeWalt Heavy-Duty Horizontal Portable Air Compressor is built for higher performance needs. This unit will easily power heavier-duty power tools without much downtime with its higher flow rating and higher capacity tank. When compared with air compressors of its class, this unit is actually pretty quiet. It utilizes an oil-free pump for less maintenance and utilizes efficient high-pressure technology to keep up with higher airflow demand and features and easy access control panel. Though it is a bit on the heavy side with its 15 gallon tank, this air compressor is on castors to make it easier to move around.

The Good

This air compressor has the power to get the job done when it comes to heavier duty power tools. With its added castors, this air compressor is portable in spite of its heavier weight. This unit is oil-free and maintenance free and will operate 95% of the air powered tools that are powered by air. It is durable and has incredible longevity.

The Not So Good

Since we are discussing quiet air compressors, we have to knock this one a little bit for being pretty darned loud. Loading this unit onto a pickup bed for transport will take a little muscle for which those castors won’t help out a great deal.

A Great Choice If…

You need some serious tank capacity and air flow to operate heavier duty air-powered tools. This air compressor is a bit loud and pretty heavy.

Quiet Beauty

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